Considering how many people here would rather troll threads than talk hockey, it's not shocking how people like Madden.

I honestly had to check to see if this was a necro'd thread. What are Cooke's teammates cleaning up exactly? What has Cooke done in the past 2 years that makes them feel they are sick of his play now? He has been a consistent player who shows some edge to his game when he needs to. That's probably been the smartest thing Cooke has done... cut most of the stuff during the regular season and loosen up again in the playoffs when it's more the norm and there is more slack for that type of play. Cooke got tossed on an extremely bad call on the McQuaid hit (I think that was who he hit). Other than that, I can't even think of what his teammates feel they have to clean up in 2013 (maybe if this was 2011?).

Boogeyman wrote:Who hates him? I'm just pointing out the inaccuracies. I like Mark a lot actually, if you see past his shtick he seems like a good dude. That said, he, Rossi and Yohe are rumor mongers IMO.

Those guys have learned real fast once you become a rumor monger more people listen to you. Look at Eklund, 24/7 of crap yet that web site makes money because of the viewers.

No offense to anybody on here. but Madden forgot more about hockey then we all know. he knows the game well hes coached hockey teams in the past and won national championships. hes been going to pens games since he was 6 years old . its not like he just one day decided to talk hockey on a radio show for the hell of it. If anybody thinks those morons on 93.7 the fan know hockey more than madden then those people don't know hockey either. what you people don't realize is the way he acts on the radio towards fans is mostly just an act .(I say mostly cause some of you people that call his show are truly dumb-asses an deserve to be put down by him.) Ive meet Mark a bunch a times and hes a very nice guy as long as you don't say some stupid fan-boy gibberish like most of the stuff i read on message boards like this one. Bottom line is he has a very entertaining show and he is a good interviewer also .He does have a good relationship with Lemieux and the whole pens organization . as far as the cook thing goes i wouldn't doubt there are players that don't like him. you cant expect 25 to 30 players to like each other on a team. it just don't happen in any sport . ya you have to play with him on the ice but you don't have to like him. i personally think they shouldn't resign him his best day s are behind him its time to move on.

mightyguins wrote:No offense to anybody on here. but Madden forgot more about hockey then we all know. he knows the game well hes coached hockey teams in the past and won national championships. hes been going to pens games since he was 6 years old . its not like he just one day decided to talk hockey on a radio show for the hell of it. If anybody thinks those morons on 93.7 the fan know hockey more than madden then those people don't know hockey either. what you people don't realize is the way he acts on the radio towards fans is mostly just an act .(I say mostly cause some of you people that call his show are truly dumb-asses an deserve to be put down by him.) Ive meet Mark a bunch a times and hes a very nice guy as long as you don't say some stupid fan-boy gibberish like most of the stuff i read on message boards like this one. Bottom line is he has a very entertaining show and he is a good interviewer also .He does have a good relationship with Lemieux and the whole pens organization . as far as the cook thing goes i wouldn't doubt there are players that don't like him. you cant expect 25 to 30 players to like each other on a team. it just don't happen in any sport . ya you have to play with him on the ice but you don't have to like him. i personally think they shouldn't resign him his best day s are behind him its time to move on.

I worked for Clear Channel for a few years right before Madden got there. When he was their competition, I know everyone associated with the company were big fans of him personally and professionally. Not too many people didnt dislike him as a person. Tim Benz was legitimately obsessed with him (still is). He would listen to Madden's show during commercials to see what he was talking about on his show. The best would be when the Madden was ripping the Pirates and Tim wouldnt be allowed to since Clear Channel was the home of the Pirates. Tim would legitimately cry and throw hissy fit tantrums because Madden would pretty much mock him for not being able/having the guts to criticize them. HILARIOUS stuff. Tim would give his left nut to be Mark Madden and still gets all excited when he gets to go on Madden's show. He still steals Madden's thoughts wanting to be him.

About 2 years after Madden was working for the X, I was out with one of the program managers there and we talked about Madden. He pretty much gushed over him and said he was willing to do whatever he was asked if it was good for the company, on or off the air. He also said he was easy to work it. Overall, he's considered a pretty nice guy. While I don't know him personally, I've been around him more than a few times and have talked with him at times. I got zero issues with him as a person.

Madden is the best in the business. He's not a sports talk show host. He's a professional wrestling character. He's a gimmick. Ever watch pro wrestling? There is a difference between wrestlers and entertainers. Some guys are great wrestlers in the ring, but that doesnt bring in money. It's the entertainers that bring in money. Guys like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, CM Punk, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Chris Jericho, Dusty Rhodes, etc. You cant teach what those guys have. You wanna be a star? You better be able to talk, cut a promo, and entertain. That's what Madden does. And he's the best ENTERTAINER in the Pittsburgh media.

All that being said, Madden doesnt have nearly the direct sources to the Penguins people think in terms of players, coaches, front office guys. He gets most stuff from secondary sources/hearsay. I don't believe his Matt Cooke story. I don't think too many guys in that locker room would say that to him directly. Actually I 100% KNOW they wouldnt. But I dont doubt the validity of it. I'm sure many players feel its best that Matt Cookie moves on.

There is a reason Madden never breaks any Penguins stories or has inside info first.....

mightyguins wrote:No offense to anybody on here. but Madden forgot more about hockey then we all know. he knows the game well hes coached hockey teams in the past and won national championships. hes been going to pens games since he was 6 years old . its not like he just one day decided to talk hockey on a radio show for the hell of it. If anybody thinks those morons on 93.7 the fan know hockey more than madden then those people don't know hockey either. what you people don't realize is the way he acts on the radio towards fans is mostly just an act .(I say mostly cause some of you people that call his show are truly dumb-asses an deserve to be put down by him.) Ive meet Mark a bunch a times and hes a very nice guy as long as you don't say some stupid fan-boy gibberish like most of the stuff i read on message boards like this one. Bottom line is he has a very entertaining show and he is a good interviewer also .He does have a good relationship with Lemieux and the whole pens organization . as far as the cook thing goes i wouldn't doubt there are players that don't like him. you cant expect 25 to 30 players to like each other on a team. it just don't happen in any sport . ya you have to play with him on the ice but you don't have to like him. i personally think they shouldn't resign him his best day s are behind him its time to move on.

mightyguins wrote:No offense to anybody on here. but Madden forgot more about hockey then we all know. he knows the game well hes coached hockey teams in the past and won national championships. hes been going to pens games since he was 6 years old . its not like he just one day decided to talk hockey on a radio show for the hell of it. If anybody thinks those morons on 93.7 the fan know hockey more than madden then those people don't know hockey either. what you people don't realize is the way he acts on the radio towards fans is mostly just an act .(I say mostly cause some of you people that call his show are truly dumb-asses an deserve to be put down by him.) Ive meet Mark a bunch a times and hes a very nice guy as long as you don't say some stupid fan-boy gibberish like most of the stuff i read on message boards like this one. Bottom line is he has a very entertaining show and he is a good interviewer also .He does have a good relationship with Lemieux and the whole pens organization . as far as the cook thing goes i wouldn't doubt there are players that don't like him. you cant expect 25 to 30 players to like each other on a team. it just don't happen in any sport . ya you have to play with him on the ice but you don't have to like him. i personally think they shouldn't resign him his best day s are behind him its time to move on.